Head of Early Development Asset Operations

Director
CompanyIpsen Biopharmaceuticals
LocationLondon (UK), Paris
CategoryOperations & Business
SeniorityDirector
Workplace-
Posted2026-08-23
Estimated salary£9K - £17K (a market estimate, not the employer's figure)
Viaworkday

Description

Title

Head of Early Development Asset Operations

Company

Ipsen Biopharm Ltd

About Ipsen

Ipsen is a mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company with a focus on transformative medicines in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. Supported by nearly 100 years of development experience, with global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K, we tackle areas of high unmet medical need through research and innovation.

Our passionate teams in more than 40 countries are focused on what matters and endeavor every day to bring medicines to patients in 88 countries. We build a workplace that champions human-centric leadership and fosters a culture of collaboration, excellence and impact. At Ipsen, every individual is empowered to be their true selves, grow and thrive alongside the company’s success. Join us on our journey towards sustainable growth, creating real impact on patients and society!

For more information, visit us at https://www.ipsen.com/   and follow our latest news on LinkedIn and Instagram .

Job Description

Job Title:   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations

Division /   Function :   Asset Operations   Team, within Global   Portfolio   Operations (G P O)

Location:   France ( Ballard ) or the UK (London)

Summary   / purpose   of the position

The   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations   will be part of the   Asset Operations   organization   within Global   Portfolio   Operations (G P O)   and   will report   to   the   VP   Asset Operations .

The   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations   will :

-
D rive successful operational execution of   Early Development   programs   acting as Project Manager, the   single point of accountability for operational support to   the   asset   teams .

-
L ead and support a team of   P roject   M anagers   (Asset Operations Leads - AOLs)   responsible for   supporting operational delivery of   the   portfolio of   Early Development   programs.

-
D rive cross-functional collaboration in advancing   a portfolio of   innovative therapies through preclinical, clinical,   regulatory,   and commercial   milestones.

-
E nsure constant fit   of activities and processes   to business   needs   and Asset Centric Model (ACM)   requirements .

Embedded in a highly dynamic matrix environment spanning across functions, t his   role   supports   highly strategic projects   and allows exposure to higher levels of   senior management .

Main responsibilities   /   job expectations

-
The   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations   will divide their time between acting as   (1)   Project Manager (PM) responsible for   operational   delivery of   Early Development   programs,   (2)   leading   a team of   PMs   supporting operational delivery of   Early Development   programs ,   (3)   driving cross functional   collaboration   and supporting   Early Development   portfolio advancement ,   and   (4)   driving   continuous improvement   initiatives to maintain   Asset Operations   processes and tools   future ready .

-
(1)   Acting as   AOL , the   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations   will have to:

-
Serve as the   single point of accountability for   operational project management.

-
Apply Ipsen’s   ACM   framework to   e nsure accurate and timely delivery of projects   objectives   and steady progress of programs   across all stages of development and commercialization .

-
Enforce productive project environment by utilizing standard project methodology   and leading monthly operational meetings .

-
Develop   and maintain fully   integrated   cross-functional   project   plan ,   and t rack project progress against objectives and timelines and raise potential red flags to project leader as appropriate as well as possible mitigation .

-
Advises on governance expectations and prepares for key decision point discussions with focus on cross-functional input and rigorous   debate.

-
Facilitates effective, science-based business decisions including the generation of multiple development scenarios/options as needed, highlighting interdependencies and downstream impacts (including but not limited to timelines and budget) of strategic decisions.

-
Contribute with   Asset Team   leaders in preparation and presentation of progress reports   and decision-making material   to the appropriate project governance bodies, stakeholders, and senior management.

-
Manage project budget and resource plan in partnership with the   Team Leaders , Finance cost controller, Resource Forecast managers, function heads and function representatives.

-
Collaborate with Finance representative to t rack project budget, expenses and resources against estimates and commitment and raise potential red flags to project leader as appropriate.

-
Ensure all supportive materials and data are provided for tax credit requests on due   time.

-
Set-up and keep up - to - date project documents repository available to all team members and supporting collaborative ways of   working.

-
Ensure good organization and easy access to all relevant project   documents.

-
F oster development of high performing teams, actively monitoring the health and operating efficiency of teams

-
For projects that are being jointly developed, works closely with strategic alliance   management   partner.

-
(2) The   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations   will be leading , and manag ing   a team of Project Managers to deliver project excellence across the   Early Development   portfolio.

-
Set measurable objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each team member, facilitating regular one-on-one meetings and feedback sessions to discuss progress, address challenges, and recognize achievements.

-
P rovide day-to-day strategic guidance to   team members , ensuring they have the resources and support to deliver on their individual and collective project goals.

-
Serve as a role model in fostering accountability, resilience, and problem-solving within the team.

-
Identify each team member’s strengths and areas for growth.   Support   tailored development plans to foster skill enhancement, career progression, and leadership potential, with a focus on preparing team members for increased responsibilities within the organization.

-
Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture with a focus on accountability, innovation, and professional growth.   Cultivate a collaborative team environment, encouraging open communication, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving among team   members.

-
(3)   The   Senior Director, Head of   Early Development   Asset Operations   will   d rive cross functional collaboration to support the   Early Development   portfolio advancement:

-
Collaborate with TA Heads, Commercial Leads, Franchise Leads and   Governance Operations   to d evelop and maintain a clear roadmap for the   Early Development   portfolio, aligning program goals, key milestones, and timelines with the organization’s strategic priorities. Regularly update this roadmap to reflect new developments, regulatory updates, or evolving market needs, ensuring the portfolio remains aligned with both short- and long-term goals.

-
Collaborate closely with cross-functional leaders in clinical, regulatory, CMC, commercial   and finance   to ensure that portfolio decisions reflect a unified approach to advancing therapeutic candidates through each development phase. Ensure alignment across departments on priorities and resource allocation to maintain steady project progression.

-
Collaborate with   Governance Operations   to   oversee   Early Development   portfolio and track progress, budgets, and timelines. Regularly assess   Early Development   portfolio health and performance, adjusting based on data, stakeholder feedback, and strategic reviews to optimize outcomes .

-
Delegate respo